The Champions League has twice been Rafael Benítez's saving grace at Liverpool and it was understandable to hear the Spaniard express concern on the day Internazionale emerged as his team's latest ominous opponents. It was telling, however, that events at Fulham and not Uefa's headquarters in Nyon were the root cause of the Liverpool manager's trepidation.

Liverpool enhanced their reputation for stunning cup comebacks in Marseille last week but there was always going to be a price for finishing second in their group and the Italian champions, the current unbeaten leaders of Serie A, are it. A second leg away in San Siro only adds to the task awaiting Benítez's team.

The Liverpool manager is under pressure this season amid tensions with his club's American co-chairmen and yesterday appealed for more patience and consideration from the new breed of owners after Lawrie Sanchez became the Premier League's seventh managerial departure this season- and sixth to be sacked - when he left Fulham.

"The situation is changing in England because a lot of people are spending a lot of money on the game. They think that, if you spend, you must be successful but it is not that easy," the Liverpool manager said, a position he hopes will be appreciatred by his club's owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

"Look at Spain, for example. One or two teams begin the season confident they can win the league. Another 10 think they can make the top four. Another 10 believe they should be clear of relegation. Then, as soon as the table changes, it all depends on the owner and whether he has the experience and the nerves to handle the situation or not. I would say 20% of changes are successful, the rest are not, but every change costs a club a lot of money."

Liverpool finances would be improved by another long run in the Champions League but neither Benítez nor his club have fond memories of their last competitive meetings with Inter. The teams last met in the 1965 European Cup semi-final, a tie rich in Bill Shankly anecdotes but which haunted the managerial legend to his grave given the dubious refereeing of Jose Maria Ortiz de Mendibil, a Spaniard, which enabled Inter to overturn a 3-1 first-leg defeat with a 3-0 victory on home soil. Benítez's problems against the Italians as manager of Valencia in the 2002 Uefa Cup quarter-final and 2003 Champions League quarter-final were more to do with profligacy than claims of a dodgy referee.

"We played them twice and lost and each time we had about 35 attempts on goal, it was unbelievable," said Benítez yesterday, offering a familiar complaint. "We could not progress because they had good players and a lot of European experience and Inter are the same now - [Hernán] Crespo, [Javier] Zanetti, a lot of good players. But we do not fear anyone in the Champions League. We knew whoever we faced would be good, Sevilla, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Barcelona or Inter, but we do not fear any team."

Liverpool's pedigree in this competition backs that argument, and it should not be forgotten how Juventus were defeated at Anfield then held to a goalless draw in Turin in the quarter-final of the triumphant 2005 campaign. While a domestic title challenge is demanded, two consecutive Premier League defeats, the second to Manchester United, would seem to suggest Europe provides Benítez with his clearest path to glory once again.

The Liverpool manager rejects that logic. "I don't think the Champions League is our best chance, not really," he said. "Our priority is to improve in the Premier League. Yes, we know how to win the Champions League but to win the Premier League means winning games and we know how to do that. Maybe this year we can be a lot closer to the top.

"We deserved more against United. In my opinion we played better than them but against a top side the difference is the small details and very often the small details depends on the players you have. We all know the money they have spent on players. We have some players who can change games, but they have more."

The implication was clear - Liverpool remain in the financial shadow of their rivals - but Benítez is not now in a position to appeal for transfer revenue in public. "The plan we had when we first arrived was to improve the signing of young players and to improve the coaching of the young players, whilst investing in the first team. That plan is still going on," was his overview of transfer policy yesterday.